Ironing machine



April 4 3.939., G w WARDWELL, JR 2,153,403

IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug 13, 1956 I'nv ent or 1 George \X/TWavdweU J1.

l-J 6 (9. Hus Attorney.

the cylinder on the top 3 of a table.

Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES IRONING George W. Wardwcll, Jr.

MACHINE Nichols, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 13,

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to an ironing machine of the type in which ironing is effected between cooperating pressing elements.

The object of my invention is to provide an im-' proved construction in ironing machines which will dissipate the steam generated during ironing so that it will not condense on the pressing surfaces and' moisten the pieces of material which are subsequently ironed. Fora consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is an end elevation of an ironing press embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view partly broken away of the heated shoe; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the shoe in section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of a rotary ironer embodyingmy invention.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive I have shown my invention applied to an ironing machine of the type disclosed in my application Serial No. 750,620, filed October 30, 1934. In this construction the pressuredeveloping mechanism is contained within a cylinder I having a flange 2 for supporting Within the cylinder is a piston on the top of which is mounted a buck 4. The buck may be of an impervious material such as metal and requires no pad. On the lower end of the cylinder is pivoted a carriage 4a having an arm 5 which supports a heated shoe 6. The shoe comprises a metal plate I having depending flanges 8 at its edges. Within the flanges 8 are carried suitable electric heating elements 9 around which is arranged a vapor pervious pad I0 of metal fibers such as steel wool. The steel wool is held in place by a wire mesh screen II secured to the flanges 8. The screen I'I forms the work contacting surface of the shoe. The pad I0 and the screen II are both-heated by the electric heating elements to the desired operating temperature. The pad I0 may be made of other non-combustible materials such as spun glass. The upper surface of the plate I is enclosed by a cover I2. Tongues I3, which are struck out of the flange 8 at the rear edge of the shoe, extend into slots I4 in the cover and locate the cover on the shoe. The slots I4 and the openings I5 made by the tongues I3 provide spaces through which the steam generated during ironing may flow to the atmosphere. on the upper side of the plate 'I are secured channels I6 which stiffen the shoe and also provide surfaces for attaching the shoe to the arm 5 of the carriage.

1936, Serial No. 95,834

The channels I6 are connected by ribs I6a. At the front of the shoe is a handle I1 which is secured to the plate 'I. The rearward movement of the carriage is cushioned by a spring 29 connected to toggle links 30 and 3| which are respectively pivoted to the cylinder and the carriage.

In the use of the ironing machine the material to be ironed is arranged on the upper surface of the buck 4. The heated shoe is then brought into register with the buck and the buck is forced into pressing engagement with the shoe by pressure created between the cylinder and the piston which carries the buck. The heat of the shoe converts the moisture in the material being ironed into steam which flows through the screen II into the pad III. Some of this steam will remain in the pad, but a considerable portion 'of it will flow to the atmosphere through the openings I4 and I5 in the rear edge of the shoe. This is readily apparent when it is considered that the steam will be at the same temperature as the shoe, which corresponds to a steam pressure of from 50 to 100 pounds per square inch. At the conclusion of the pressing operation the pressure between the buck and the shoe is released and the shoe is moved to the dotted line position so that additional work may be arranged on the buck. The steam which remains in the pad III will now be quickly discharged through the screen I I so that by the time the work is arranged on the buck the pad II] will be completely dry.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a diagrammatic view of a rotary ironer embodying my invention. In this construction the roll comprises a metal cylinder I8 having disks I9 secured thereto. The roll is driven by a shaft having an arm 2I fixed thereto which is provided with a pin 22 for engaging one of a plurality of holes 23 in the disk to complete the driving connection to the roll. Around the outer surface of the cylinder I8 are arranged suitable electric heating elements 24 which are covered by a pad 25 of steel wool. The pad is held in place by a wire mesh screen 26. 1 The roll cooperates with an arcuate pressing member 21 having a polished metal surface 28. In the use of the ironing machine the material to be ironed is arranged on the surface of the roll, the roll and the pressing member 21 are pressed together, and the roll is rotated to feed the material under the polished surface 28. While confined between the roll and the pressing member 21' the moisture in the material is converted into, steam which is driven into the pad 25. As the material is moved from under the pressing member 21 it drops away from the surface of the roll,

and the steam, which has been driven into the pad 25, flows to the atmosphere, quickly drying the pad.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

i. In an ironing machine, a buck on which the material may be arranged, a shoe having heating elements and a vapor pervious work contacting surface comprising metal fibers heated by said elements to a temperature substantially above the earbonizlng temperature of the materials to be ironed whereby when the buck and shoe are in pressing engagement heat is conducted from said fibers for converting the moisture in the material being ironed into steam, and passage means associated with said shoe to exhaust to the atmosphere any steam which passes through said fibers.

2. In an ironing machine, a roll having heating elements and a vapor pervious work contacting surface comprising metal fibers heated by said elements to a temperature substantially above the carbonizing temperature of the materials to be ironed whereby heat is conducted from said fibers for converting the moisture in the material being ironed into steam, means for rotating the roll, and a pressing member having a polished surface cooperating with said roll.

3. In an ironing machine, a pressing member,

a heated pressing member cooperating therewith comprising a metal plate having depending flanges, heating elements within said flanges, a vapor pervlous work contacting surface comprising metal fibers within said flanges heated by said elements to a temperature substantiallyabove the carbonizing temperature of the materials to be ironed whereby when the buck and shoe are in pressing engagement heat is conducted from said fibers for converting the moisture in the material being ironed into steam, and openings in said flanges for permitting said steam to flow to the atmosphere.

4. In an ironing machine, a lower unpadded pressing member having an upwardly presented surface on which material may be arranged, and a co-operating upper heated pressing member having heating elements and a vapor pervlous work contacting surface comprising metal fibers heated by said heating elements to a temperature substantially above the carbonizing temperature of the materials to be ironed whereby the buck and shoe are in pressing engagement heat is con-' ducted from said fibers for converting the moisture in the material being ironed into steam.

5. In an ironing machine for ironing previously moistened material, a buck on which the moistened material may be arranged, and a cooperating shoe having heating elements and a vapor pervlous work contacting surface from which heat fiows by conduction for converting the moisture in the material being ironed into steam, said surface comprising metal fibers arranged around and heated by said heating elements to a temperature substantially above the carbonizing temperature of the materials to be ironed, and a wire mesh screen on the outer surface thereof holding said metal fibers in place.

,6. In an ironing machine for ironing previously moistened material, a buck on which. the moistened material may be arranged, and a cooperating shoe having heating elements and a vapor pervlous work contacting surface heated by said elements from which heat flows by conduction for converting the moisture in the ma-- terial being ironed into steam, said vapor pervlous work contacting surface comprising fibers arranged to be heated by said heating elements to a temperature substantially above the carbonizing temperature of the materials to be ironed, and a wire mesh screen on the outer surface thereof for holding said metal fibers in place.

'7. In an ironing machine for ironing previously moistened material, a buck on which the moistened material may be arranged, and a cooperating shoe having heating elements and a vapor pervlous work contacting surface from which heat flows by conduction for converting the moisture in the material being ironed into steam, said work contacting surface comprising metal fibers heated by said elements to a temperature substantially above the carbom'zing temperature of the materials to be ironed, and a wire mesh screen on the outer surface of said fibers for holding the fibers in place.

8. In an ironing machine for ironing prcviously moistened material, a lower pressing member having an upwardly presented surface on which the moistened material may be arranged, and a cooperating upper heated press ing member having heating elements and a vapor pervlous work contacting surface from which heat fiows by conduction for converting the moisture in the material being ironed into steam, said work contacting surface comprising metal fibers heated by said heating elements to a temperature substantially above the carbonizing temperature of the materials to be ironed.

9. In an ironing machine for ironing previously moistened material, a lower pressing member having an upwardly presented surface on which the moistened material may be arranged, and a cooperating upper heated press ing member having heating elements and a vapor pervlous work contacting surface from which heat flows by conduction for converting the moisture in the material being ironed into steam, said work contacting surface comprising non-combustible fibers heated by said heating elements to a. temperature substantially above the carbonizing temperature of the materials to be ironed.

GEORGE W. WARDWELL, JR. 

